Stress fracture

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repeated load rather than a single injury, common in the foot, shin, and other weight-bearing areas — particularly with rapid increases in training. It causes focal pain that tends to worsen with activity and settle with rest.

Physiotherapy supports recovery by managing load, protecting the healing bone, and guiding a gradual, structured return to activity. In this guide we cover identification, return-to-load programming, and rehabilitation for stress fractures — practical guidance for clinicians and clear explanations so patients and athletes understand why patience and paced loading are essential to healing and preventing recurrence.